Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1887-09-10
NEWSPAPER EDITING.

The following article is from the Pacif
Printer, and hits the nail about as squarely
on the head as anything VIC have seen pub
lished in regard to the million or more per
sons who think they were born to be editor:
and that no paper is complete unless it con
tains some of their ideas about something
that is OF no importance TO anyone but them
selves:
"The glamour Of the circus ticket and the
railroad pass soon wears away under the
pressure Of real life in the sancIum The
magical "we, THAT lures so many goodly hu-
man ships to ''the sea Of journalism, loses its
fascination when the editors work meets the
criticisms OF the countless thousands who
make men tired, because they know the bust
ness Of others SO much better than they know
their own. Enthusiasts soon learn that news
papers are public property, IN the estimation
Of the public, and that each individual Of the
dear people is ready at any and all times 10
neglect his own affairs in life in order TO in
struct that mythical, mystical peIsonagr,
'rhe editor" Unborn in humanity is con-
scious superiority that hnds expression at
slightest proyacation. No man is free Of il,
and how Notifying 10 the pride OF a success
full business man it would be 10 hear the
many criticisms Of his methods, and realiz-
that all his townsmen knew better than him.
self how to manage his business. But pri.
vale business is exempt from the mortihca-
tion Of public criticism, and Of knowing that
its success is due to chance and not 10 the
judgement of its conductor, and of realizing
that every other man in the community could
have managed it 10 greater success But
this bliss Of ignorance Of his inferiority is
but the need OF the editor; his work meets
all the eyes, and the impersonality of the
victim subjects him to the egotism that move,
all men TO neglect their own affairs in his be
half.
The newspaper that hopes to win the APP
plause OF all men, will win the applause
Of none. The world has made sue
cess the test Of merit, and the popularity
and rtrength OF newspaper are The test Of
the merit of its editorial management and if
newspaper win these it has done all that it
can hope to do through editorial conduct,
and may conlenteoly resign itself TO the de-
SPAR OF ever winning the applause Of all
men.
The wonder is that men who know so
much about editing" newspaper do not
make the effort for which they deem them.
selves called in ife's work. Mans duty to
his fellows as well as to himself demands
his attention to that calling in which he can
win greatest success, and those who criticise
newspapers to the neglect Of their own con.
Germs, should hasten 10 embark in the bust
ness, and conduct it according TO that per.
feet plan which every man has for the conduct
of the business Of every other man.
Alas, for the circus ticket and the railroad
pass. What poor compensation of reward
are they for the humiliation Of spirit conse
quent upon the knowledge that the popular
ity and strength of a newspaper are nothing,
but that the true test Of merit is the funll.
ment of the wishes Of all men regardless Of
their wide differences of opinion and selfish
interests t- ',--..,.